Static analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced plate and shell structures

This paper deals with linear static analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite structures. Five types of distributions of uniaxially aligned reinforcements are considered, that is, uniform and four kinds of functionally graded distributions of carbon nanotubes along the thickness of shell structures. Material properties are estimated by a micro mechanical model (extended rule of mixture), using some effective parameters. The governing equations are developed based on a discrete double directors shell finite element. The obtained results in terms of deflection and stresses are illustrated by three numerical examples in order to outline the performance and the applicability of the proposed finite element method. The effects of carbon nanotube volume fraction, length-to-thickness ratio, boundary conditions and others geometrical parameters on the static behavior of shell structures are also examined.